What ERP systems are available for SMBs (small- to medium-sized businesses)?
Today, many hosted, Web-based ERP solutions are available for SMBs, allowing them to operate a smaller-scale ERP system at a fraction of the cost of a premise-based solution. By contracting a third-party provider to host and operate an ERP system, SMBs save the cost and hassle of having to hire and train extra IT staff to implement or maintain the solution. However, there are some risks to a hosted solution. Since all the information is stored on the hosted servers, a company puts its sensitive data in the hands of the third-party contractor providing the systems, which presents risks of privacy or data compromise. Additionally, many large companies such as Oracle Corp., SAP and Sage Software have developed highly customizable hosted solutions for businesses, but customization can bloat the price tag of a hosted solution and make it unaffordable for some companies.
